Pride vs Grandeur

[urc12]

Good Morning,

I fell in love with cruising on Carnival in my 20's. I am 50 now. I sailed both the Holiday and the Imagination when they were new and I also sailed the Festival. I haven't sailed Carnival in the last 17 years although we cruise one ore two times per year.

 

This year we are planning another cruise over Thanksgiving. My wife and I will be going with our 2 boys (15) and (10). We have sailed the Grandeur 5 times in the last 5 years and we love going out of Baltimore.

 

All of our cruises on the Grandeur have been excellent but I am considering switching things up a little. My boys and wife are not anxious to make the change. The itineraries are similar, we have been to all the ports before and we would probably go to the beach on port days. Price is about the same too with Carnival being about 100.00 less.

 

I would appreciate it if someone who has been on both ships could give me a comparison on:

Pool Area Indoor and out (most important to us)

Casino

Food and Alternative Dining

Public areas

Level of service.

Kids program.

 

If there is anything else that I could use to help "sell" making the switch to my family, please let me know. I really appreciate your help and expertice.

 

Thank you!

Eric

[AEPi71]

Following. I have not been on the Pride yet, but will in Sept. I believe the Grandeur's sister ship in is the Rhapsody, and I've been on that ship. So I'm hoping the hear what I'm in store for.

[jamscckmc]

I have been on the Pride twice and the Grandeur and Enchantment out of Baltimore each once. I have another Pride booked for May. I am anxious to see the 2.0 changes. I think Carnivals MDR food is much better. Love the 24 hr pizza and can't wait for Guys Burgers. Kids will love the 24hr ice cream and yogurt machines. I never liked the frozen yogurt machines on RC. I liked they had ice cream and frozen yogurt machines and that they were open at night. The ice cream is very good. Liked the stations on the lido better on Pride. Great deli with made to order sandwiches. Best pizza I've ever had ( I've been on every major cruise line) and available 24hrs. Only thing lacking was cookies. We just had small hard cookies unless you wanted to pay for them. I found the Steak houses equal. Entertainment better on RC although liked the comedy club on Pride. My baby is 23 so I can't talk about kids club. I do think the slides on Pride and pool area would appeal more to kids. I choose Pride this time just because I like the ports better. I prefer HMC to Coco. Cay. And really like Grand Turk, even though you are only there till 2pm. Just prepare the kids for the nude artwork.

[jamscckmc]

I forgot casino. Liked the slots much better on Pride. Better selection. I can't comment on tables.

[wannago30]

Very interested to know comparisons as well. I love sailing out of Baltimore, and have sailed the pride twice already. I have a 3rd cruise booked on the pride coming up in July. The pride is by far my favorite carnival ship, very excited to see the changes after 2.0 upgrades. Looking to try the Grandeur.

[jamscckmc]

I found service pretty equal. If your kids are in the same stateroom on Carnival they leave the pull down and couch bed in the down and made up as beds the whole time vs pulling down just for bedtime like on RC. We were in a vista suite with DD last year and asked our steward to close the couch up during the day so we could watch TV more comfortably but he said they don't do that. I thought maybe he was just being lazy but being nosy and peaking in rooms I saw pull down beds left down all day.

[urc12]

Thank you everyone for the replies and insight. I forgot how great the pizza was and I think the kids will like the waterslide.

[Cruisegirl6]

OP, do you eat in the specialty restaurants?

[urc12]

LyndaMr,

We usually eat one night at Giovanni's Table (Italian) and one night in Chops. Sometimes we do a sushi lunch too.

[Cruisegirl6]

Hi Urc12- Since you only do two nights I then have to say this:

 

The Pride has a steakhouse, I am sure it is just like the one on the Dream and its always excellent, so at least you have a specialty restaurant to go to. The menu does have many diversified choices so you can go there twice, honestly, on the Dream we dined there six evenings always had something different.

 

My favorite cruise line overall is RC but if I were in this situation I would go with the Pride, she is updated too. I think the kids would have more and more fun on the Pride.

 

I much prefer Carnivals casinos over any other cruise line

Food- buffets are always better on RC but the Pride has more options

Public areas have to say with the two ships they are both great

Service- RC always excellent overall, Carnival a hit or miss as far as the MDR and Cabin Stewards...if your the type that likes more than one cocktail during your dinner in the MDR forget it, pretty much never happens and if it does your lucky...as far as all the other staff on Carnival, we never had any problem found all the staff to be polite and friendly.

Kids program, usually I would say RC but since your speaking of a smaller ship the Grandeur I have to choose Pride.

 

My choice for you is the Pride.

[jamscckmc]

It's always fun exploring a new ship and seeing new shows. I've been on RC and Princess many times and the shows don't change often and even the fly ons are repeated. I've seen the same comics and magicians so many times! Some people don't like the new shows on Carnival since the 2.0 and I will miss the live music but as often as you've been on Grandeur you have probably seen every show multiple times.

[urc12]

Thanks Lindamr. Again I appreciate the feedback. Did you notice a lot of smoke in the casino? On the Grandeur, the casino has been extremely Smokey to the point where my wife won't even go in.

[Cruisegirl6]

All ships have a problem with smoking in the casino's and then there is the issue whether there more smokers on that particular sailing that are in the casino or not. Its a hit or miss....I have to say the choice between both ships, I have to choose the Pride being better.

[meatloafsfan]

Some plusses which may help to "sell" your family on the Pride:

 

Food options:

 

Guys Burgers (included in cruise fare)

Blue Iguana Cantina (included in cruise fare)

Pirate Pizza featuring made to order, thin crust pizza (included in cruise fare)

Deli (included in cruise fare)

24 hour ice cream (included in cruise fare)

Excellent Chocolate cake and good cheesecake available through room service (included in cruise fare)

Bonsai Sushi (for fee)

Carnival Steakhouse (excellent - for fee)

 

Pool Area:

 

Green Thunder Waterslide

Carnival Waterworks

Covered pool area in case of inclement weather

 

 

Casino:

 

Two big differences I found on Carnival over RCL's casinos:

 

1. Light. The Pride's casino has some large round port hole windows (practically floor to ceiling) at least on one side. It allows for some natural light and makes it feel more welcoming and not like you're in some dark dungeon which is how I felt on Royal (Explorer of the Seas - but I don't imagine the Grandeur is that different).

 

2. Drinks on Us card. If you hit 1500 points, you'll get a drinks on us card which gives you complimentary drinks in the casino while playing (basically unlimited, not where you have to trade in X number of points for an individual drink like on Royal).

[Cruisegirl6]

If you enjoy playing in the casino and will spend quite a bit of time in there, your only choice is the Pride.

 

Carnivals casinos treat you very well, its like the last poster said if you get to 1500 points you get the free drinks on us card (only to the person that actually has gotten the points not to your spouse that is with you) BUT depending on how you play and how many points you accumulate...Carnival offers casino discount trips sometimes a free cruise where you only pay for taxes and fees (on specific sailings) and sometimes they offer a decent price for a cruise with cash back...on our upcoming cruise my other half is in the "premier cruise offer" which has to do with the casino offerings, he is getting $900 cash back from the casino when he gets on board. If you reach certain amount of points, or keep sailing Carnival and showing you accumulate over 1500 points each cruise, they also give you goodies to the room such as chocolate covered strawberries, pastries and such plus bottles of wine at dinner, they always amaze me by how wonderful they treat us, there is no other cruise line that treats us so well in the casino as Carnival does.

[urc12]

Very good Info. Thank you. OK you got me excited about making the switch. I'm going to make my pitch and I'll let you know how it goes over. I get 2 votes since I'm the Dad!

[Cruisegirl6]

Hahaha let me know what you decide. :)

[serene56]

What type of cabin are you looking at on both ships

 

The pride has the French door cabins which sell at the inside cabin price

 

two beds on the floor- a convertible sofa and the upper bed above the sofa

 

http://i865.photobucket.com/albums/ab214/k2excursion/Carnival%20cabins/P1050434.jpg

[Pennsylvania Sailor]

Have been on both although the last time on Pride was two years ago. Our experience with Chops and the Steakhouse is that the Steakhouse was a cut above Chops last month on Grandeur. We also did Chef's Table on both and found them both worth the money but somewhat different in their approach. Would do both again.

[PAcruiser25]

I have been on the Pride many times and just cruised on the Grandeur (1st RC cruise. I'm Diamond on Carnival).

 

Pool Area Indoor and out (most important to us)

Pride has 2 nice sized pools. One will be noisy/lively with the DJ and games.

Neither are heated. The one near the DJ has a retractable roof. Depth about 4.5'?

Grandeur's large outdoor pool is heated, but no retractable roof. Once in awhile a good island band plays there. The indoor one in the solarium is pretty small and can be chilly. It's for adults only unless there is inclement weather - then kids can use for certain hours. Depth about 5.5' - so make sure kids can swim.

 

Casino: sorry, don't use. Both are smoky.

 

Food and Alternative Dining

Food great on both ships. I liked RC's menu a lot because it was different for me. Sometimes for dinner I feel like there's not much I want on Carnival: but I prefer vegetarian foods and seafood. I liked the dining room fruit /cereal bar at breakfast and salad bar at lunch on the Grandeur.

Pizza is terrific on the Pride. No pizza place on Grandeur: we missed that.

Buffets: both have very good food. We like the Chinese area a lot on the Pride (have not sailed since dry dock). I think the Grandeur manages to have almost no lines there. Also, the way they pour beverages and you just pick them up works well.

Food on private island: we thought RC did this a little better though they are similar. Also, no lines!

steakhouse on Pride: has gone downhill, I would skip it. Didn't try alternative dining on Grandeur.

 

Public areas

Both very nice, I would give the edge to the Grandeur. Older ship but elegant looking. Then again the cabins are tiny so maybe that's where the space come from! Overall I thought the Grandeur was less smoky. Sports bar non-smoking which was good.

 

Level of service.

Both excellent. Awesome staff. No problems.

I will add that we thought the show were better on the Grandeur, but the Pride now has new shows. Comedy shows much more frequent on the Pride.

 

Kids program.

My child does not enjoy going to these much so I'm not the best judge. Rooms on small side for both. Staff seem very nice. Schedule is more detailed with Pride so you can take them at the exact times if they just want to try 1 activity.

Grandeur does not have mini-golf and we like that a lot (Pride has).

Grandeur has shuffleboard. Rockwall not in use a lot for us due to weather.

I will add that HMC is paradise. Coco Cay is not. Very shelly / rocky, not good for swimming or even walking on the beach.

 

I love cruises in general and would try RC again - but only on a larger ship with a larger cabin. We had a great time on both of these ships.

[PAcruiser25]

(Oops, sorry, I am platinum on Carnival, I forgot the levels.)

[WahooFan]

Was on the Pride out of Baltimore with a friend a few years back, it was my first Carnival experience. While I did enjoy it I found it much different from my prior cruises on Disney. Very much a party atmosphere. We were just on the Grandeur, again my first RCL cruise. It was very much a seniors cruise, dont know if its because of the time of the year, October, or what. I enjoyed them both, My friend who is a die hard Carnival cruiser had two complaints about RCL, no 24hr ice cream and no 24hr pizza parlour. They shut it down around 10-11. I am taking my hubby on the Pride this coming October and cannot wait to see the 2.0 upgrades.

[urc12]

The votes from the family are in and tallied and it looks like I will be taking my first Carnival Cruise in 17 years. Thank you for all your input. I think that the whole family is looking forward to trying something a little different. If any of you are going over Thanksgiving 2015, I'll buy you a drink at sail-a way!

Eric

[Cher222]

Had to jump in, cruised many times with my parents and three kids from when they were about 9,7,3. Cruised RCCL the first 4 times or so. I vowed never to eat another processed turkey dinner on American night in the dining room!:eek:

 

Tried Celebrity, not a favorite. boring looking ships per kids, but this years ago.

 

Decided I wanted to try Carnival. Husband and kids OK but parents were horrified. Booked Inspiration way back when, and everyone LOVED it!! Shows were better, food was much better, fun was better lol. Carnival tends to have one long deck full of clubs, venues. My parents compared it to the NJ shore boardwalk where you can sit and people watch.

 

Booked Carnival only for a few years after that, never had a bad cruise. Love love the new 2.0 upgrades, especially Alchemy bar. I have one drink at night I want it perfect lol.

 

Did Explorer RCCL to Bermuda, enjoyed the difference. Doing Carnival Liberty with friends who don't cruise. Doing Pride with kids, two now married. They love the Punchliner comedy club.

 

So, I guess Carnival is our fallback cruise line, we prefer it. But, I also like a change and will probably do RCCL Liberty of the seas this fall just with hubby.. Loved the ice show, the emerald loyalty treatment, the great frozen drinks on Explorer . Will miss my perfect martinis from Alchemy, but I'm sure I'll find some

 

We like a change now and then, the two lines are similar in quality I think. Have fun!!!

 

I still laugh when I remember how afraid my parents were that we would be the only sober ones on the first Carnival cruise, and the food would be inedible.